Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair tests have emerged as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair captures biomarkers in its growing strands, offering a comprehensive history of alcohol and other substances. When sourced near the scalp, hair can reflect substance use over a period of up to about three months. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch segment containing roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg, which is considered the optimal sample amount for tests and confirmations. For EtG, additional analyses, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a 150mg sample is advised. We suggest weighing it using a jeweler’s scale. If scalp hair is unattainable, an equivalent volume of body hair may be sampled. By head hair, we mean specifically scalp hair, while body hair encompasses all other types such as facial and axillary hair.
Process Overview
The laboratory procedure for processing a drug test result comprises four key steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning refers to the initial phase of integrating a sample into a lab’s system. It includes confirming the correct sealing and shipment of samples, assigning a random LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any auxiliary data entry beyond what is provided by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening involves a preliminary swift evaluation for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is an economical means to dismiss drug use in most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for legal acceptance. Samples that show a presumptive positive in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
For samples that indicate a presumptive positive in Screening, additional hair is drawn from the initial sample and prepped for Extraction. During this step, drugs are extracted from hair at a reduced concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening the most challenging methodology to implement.
Confirmation of any positive Screening outcomes occurs via GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples presumed positive are washed pre-confirmation as needed. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is examined following both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair specification and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 criteria.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Commonly called "hair follicle tests", the examination is of the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp
Hair follicle testing outshines traditional urine tests in Red Elm, SD, by offering superior detection accuracy and enhanced reliability. While urine tests provide a shorter detection timeline, hair tests detect a broader range of substances over an extended period. This reliability ensures comprehensive history insights for potential employers and concerned individuals alike, making it the preferred option.
Extended detection capabilities make hair follicle testing an invaluable tool. Capable of uncovering substance use over a period as long as 90 days, it offers employers in Red Elm, SD, a thorough look into the history of an individual’s substance use, crucial for making informed decisions regarding hiring or ongoing employment.
The tamper-resistant nature of hair follicle testing significantly reduces the risk of sample manipulation. In Red Elm, SD, these tests provide dependable and definitive evidence of substance use, vital for maintaining the confidence in test results among employers and authorities. Hair tests present a challenge to cheat, ensuring trustworthy outcomes.
Accessible and convenient, our nationwide network of testing locations, including in Red Elm, SD, guarantees easy access to testing services. With numerous centers across the country, utilizing our services ensures you can experience quick and hassle-free testing no matter where you are, promoting efficient scheduling and timely test conduct.
At Accredited Drug Testing in Red Elm, SD, the process is simple and confidential, easing concerns over privacy and use. Ordering, conducting, and receiving test results are streamlined to support user confidentiality. This seamless process ensures that compliance and security are met at every step of the testing experience.
Offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times, Accredited Drug Testing in Red Elm, SD, provides businesses with excellent value. Our cost-effective pricing structure, combined with fast results, supports peace of mind and investment in workplace safety. These aspects make hair follicle testing an attractive choice for companies of all sizes.
In Red Elm, SD, hair follicle tests deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results with remarkable precision. The advanced detection mechanisms allow for the identification of a wide variety of substances with notable accuracy. This speed and precision set hair testing apart, reassuring employers and individuals of the reliability and immediacy of their results.
Employers in Red Elm, SD, gain compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This testing method helps enforce drug-free workplace policies, minimizing legal repercussions and enhancing safety at work. By using hair tests, employers protect their company’s integrity and maintain a secure working environment.
